OBITUARY

Matthew Woudenberg

April 24, 1926 – March 1, 2019

Tribute Video

Matthew Woudenberg

Matthew Peter Woudenberg, age 92, passed away on Friday, March 1, 2019 after a long, courageous and dignified struggle with cancer. His biggest struggle was leaving behind his beloved wife, Esther. Born in Paterson, NJ, Matt was a fun loving and compassionate man with a great sense of humor and zest for life. He was hard working and held down many jobs from driving trucks on the narrow streets of NYC to helping his father at Woudenberg Market. His children remember with delight the after school sightings of a Woudenberg delivery truck, knowing that Dad would collect as many kids as could fit into his truck and deliver each of them directly to their door. In 1962, Matt and his first wife, Jan moved the family to Grand Rapids, where they almost single-handedly saved a whole generation of Calvin students from the horror of Sunday dinners at the dining hall by inviting them over. Matt also had a very successful career in the meat industry and meat related sales. His outgoing nature and work ethic made sales a natural choice for him. Matt and Esther loved to travel the world. They also enjoyed entertaining, especially at their house on Lake Michigan. Matt’s love for his wife, children and grandchildren ran deep and pure. The loving twinkle in his eyes and his quick wit, will be sorely missed. Matt is preceded in death by his brothers, Lambert and Marinus; sister, Geraldine Monsma; and step-daughter, Debra Faber. He will be missed by his wife, Esther; son, Matthew (Gloria) Woudenberg, Jr.; daughters, Karyn Moulton and Kim Woudenberg; stepson, Jeffry (Mary) Faber; stepdaughter, Rae (Michael) Stanton; 11 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; sister, Marie (Barney) Kamp; sister-in-law, Dorothy Woudenberg; and many special nieces and nephews. A time of visitation will be Monday, March 4, 2019 from 4-7 pm at Reyers North Valley Chapel. A Memorial service for Matt will be Tuesday, March 5, 2019 at 7 pm at Third Reformed Church, 2060 Michigan St. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Pastor Jeffrey Petersen officiating. Burial will be private at Blythefield Memory Gardens. Please consider a memorial contribution in Matt’s name to: Pine Rest Foundation or Emmanuel Hospice.

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